Public will not cop Barry O'Farrell's breach of trust Nielsen Poll shows

The public collectively never gets it wrong. The Nielsen Poll published by Fairfax Media yesterday shows a 14%
swing against the O’Farrell government with the 2 party preferred poll showing the
Liberal/Nationals on 49% and the ALP on 51%.

Before anyone gets carried away with one poll it is
worth considering why has the O’Farrell government lost public so
spectacularly?

Mr. Nicholls identifies a major reason. It is trust. The public will not cop
dishonesty. They will not tolerate politicians trying to manipulate them by not
being truthful and straightforward. The proposed Wallarah 2 coal mine is a case in point.

In 2009, Mr O’Farrell as Leader of the Opposition
attended a community protest at the proposed coal mine on the Central Coast with two Shadow Ministers. Whilst addressing the residents at the meeting he said:

“The next Liberal National Government will ensure that mining cannot
occur here – will ensure mining cannot occur in any water catchment area and
will ensure mining leases and mining exploration permits reflect that common
sense. No ifs, no buts, a guarantee.”

Now it transpires that since Mr. O’Farrell’s
government has been in office, his Ministers, officials and he himself have met
with the proponents and a chief Liberal Party fundraiser. This is in breach of
his own Ministerial Code; and the proposal
is now recommended for approval.

Mr. O’Farrell is trying to distance himself from that
recommendation for approval by saying the coal mine is to be determined at arms
length by an Independent Planning and
Assessment Commission.

The problem with that excuse is that the Planning and Assessment Commission is
not seen to be independent. It comprises of government appointed people, it is
a government body, and has recently been exposed for approving 94% of all
applications submitted to it.

It is within the power and authority of the O’Farrell
government to adhere to his explicit guarantee and not permit the coalmine to
proceed. To try and manipulate his words to say otherwise is dishonest.

I am not in a position to determine the merits of the
Wallarah 2 coal mine.I cannot give the residents of the Central
Coast, nor can I give the proponent any comfort in respect of the application.
What I can say is that Mr. O’Farrell’s personal unequivocal guarantee given in
2009 has been discarded.

In my view the public will understand if circumstances
change, a politician might have to change his or her position. It is the
elected government’s responsibility to govern and make decisions in the
interests of the community, pursing positions consistent with its principles
and consistent with its undertakings. When government’s breach those
undertakings, and don’t explain why, then the public will rightly reject them
at the earliest opportunity. Yesterdays poll is a judgment by the public that
they do not trust the word of Barry O’Farrell.

About Ron Hoenig

Ron Hoenig MP is the State Member for Heffron in the NSW Parliament.
He was elected to Parliament at a by-election on the 25 August 2012.
Prior to entering Parliament he was the Mayor of the City of Botany Bay, a position he held for more than 30 years. He was, and still is regarded by many as one of the most progressive Mayors in the Sydney metropolitan region.
He is a barrister and prior to entering parliament was a Public Defender for the State of New South Wales.
Ron Hoenig was born in Sydney and raised in Eastlakes, attending Eastlakes Public School, Daceyville Public School and The J.J. Cahill Memorial High School in Mascot.